The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-06

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memory Of the black soldiers, who in numbers
never before properly set forth, and with q
valor not rot appreciated, fought for the Union.
whose organic law for upward OF seventy
years had regarded them a. ohattels.
A Central Amsrfean state.
In tho book called Guatemala; the Land Of
the Q,iet,al by WILLIAM p. BRIGHAM tscribnersh
We have an account not OF the prehistoric con-
ditton Of the country. but Of its actual condi-
ton and capabilities. The word "Quetzal" put
forward In tho subtitle has no archaeological
significance % its likeness to Qnich6 might
at first sight suggest, but 10 simply the name
Of an Indigenous bird, possessed OF remarks
bly, brilliant plumage and reputed untamable.
and which, presumably by reason Of the latter
attribute. has been made the rational emblem
OF the republic. Il is plain enough on every
page that the author. who has not only re-
ceived but profted by education at Harvard
University, and who has diligently prosecuted
the task Of self-instruction since graduation
might have entered on archaeological re-
searches to tho signal advantage OF the stu
dents OF ancient America Mr.. Brigham pos
sessed the technical requirements and qusliA-
cations for work Of that kind which. unhap-
PLY wore lacking in a recent eelf-styled ex-
plorer Of Central America, who seems to have
imagined that the useful profession Of Q bar
Der could confer tho requisite equipment for
scientific investigation.
But Mr.. Brigham Ia not concerned and Ia not
writing for readers concerned with the past
He deals with the present and the possible fr-
ture-s future brought in sight by the compile
ton Of railways from the United States to the
plateau OF Anahuac and their contemplated ex-
tension through the South American republics
What may DO made Of those isthmus regions
under their conditions OF climate, soil. and
product, and In tho hands Of hardy. an In
dustrious and enterprising population is q
question brought still closer homo to our busi-
ness and bosoms by the acknowledged failure
OF tho Panama Canal and the resultant GER
tainty that the opening Of q transoceanic water
route through Nicaragua cannot be deferred
much longer. Clothed. therefore, with pecu-
liar and urgent interest for us is the subject
which IL hero discussed with obvious COM
petence and admirable thoroughness-the SUBJ
ject Of the natural resources and easily devel-
opsd aptltudes Of those neighbor common
wealths. which. by proximity. likeness Of in
situations, and instructive sympathy. should be
most closely connected with ourselves.
Mr.. Brigham made very exten sive. II not
exactly exhaustive. trip through Guatemala.
a. well as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. and
he brought to all that met his eye trained in
telligence which detected everything revealed
and promised. He discerned and comprehend
ed much more than any Of the natives have d.
vined or hoped for. and his book Is the only one
extsnt In any language which discloses what
the Gustemalan republic is or might be-
Whether the development which he foresees
will be accomplished by the Guatemalans
themselves. before tho Nicaragua Canal
IL laid open or the Mexican railways
are carried far to tho south of their
present termini is no doubt extremely
doubtful. But no careful reader Of his nara
tive will dispute that there EXISTS in Guate-
mala field for Yankee industry and capital
even moro alluring than that which was pro-
sented half century ago in Texas and Gall
fornia. Whether that field can as yet be en-
tered on by foreigners under right conditions
Of security for life and prope rty is. OF course
q different question. which the author does
not deem 1t at this time judic ious to discuss
The mineral resources Of Guatemala are not
examined In this volume, being apparently re-
served for later investigation. but in long
chapter the author lays before US the winnowed
and condensed results OF his personal study Of
the agricultural products Of the country. These
ouiry. and 1t Is his expert and trustworthy OBJ
servations on this head to which we wish to d.
rect particular attention. The products being
described by Mr.. Brigham. not In their scientific
order. but In tho sequence OF commercial i'm
portance, the sugar cane naturally comes first.
After pointing out that, Notwithstanding the
very large homo consumption. the sugar ex-
ported from the Pacific ports in 1883 was valued
at nearly $250,000. he goes on to suggest that
with even modest improvements In the present
primitive methods Of tillage and manufacture
the output might be indefinitely increased. It
appears that "at present the cultivation is al
most confined to burying the seed cane and
hashino. that Is. stripping the lower leaves
twice In season" As to the manufacture.
much OF this Is done by the rudest wooden
mills. and the sugar resembles the poorest
quality Of maple sugar. 1t Is cooled in wooden
blocks OF hemispherical form, and comes to
market wrapped In corn husks. when It is
called pamela" Touching tho natural adapta-
biIity Of the soil and climate to this crop. we
learn that Tin the rich valleys OF the Atlantic
seaboard cane will grow nine feet In as many
months. will yield four tons OF sugar to the
acre. will rattoon freely for twenty years with
out replanting. and may be ground during
nine months OF the year."
The value OF the coffee exported from Guate-
mala In 1888 was nearly S5.00O000. most Of the
crop going to England. We are told that here
"the plants are set ten feet apart each way.
and topped when about six feet high. The
Liberian variety is large beaned, and. although
OF lower price than the best Arabian. is moro
prolific. and in the lower lands, where the latter
does not do we'll. is certainly more profitable.
1t begins to bear the third year. produces 800
to 400 pounds per acre In the 9th year. attains
its maximum In the tsnth and Is old In the
thirtieth." Another source Of precious COM
mercisl products, the india-rubber tree. grows
wild In Guatemala; but the natives collect the
gum In q wasteful way. and the supply is capa-
bla Of indefinite expansion II the troe were
grown. as 1t would be by Yankees. in thorough
ly oared-for plantations. Apropos OF what rub
Der integuments might be, Dir. Brigham re-
minds US that in the United States and else
where "the science of adulteration has pro-
crossed 80 far that an ordinary pair OF so-called
rubber boots contain hardly spoonful OF the
pure gum. the rest being sulphur. coal tar. and
other substances"
Mr.. Brigham informs us that no export prod
not Of Guatemala has increased more rapidly